Dr. Will Schupp is bringing innovation to the Madison healthcare scene with his direct primary care practice, which opened in early August.
Through his experience in his father’s solo primary care practice, medical school at the University of Iowa and residency at the University of Wisconsin, Schupp saw a gap between what medical practices were offering and what people desired and needed.
“I think the patient isn’t the focus of healthcare anymore,” Schupp said. “I wanted to significantly change that.”
Patients at Schupp’s practice, which is not a part of any HMO, pay a subscription fee that covers unlimited access. This model allows for flexible visits without co-payments, medications at nearly a 50 percent discount and lower costs for tests or procedures.
“I think the most important thing about this practice model is that it is a sustainable way to have a truly accessible doctor,” Schupp said. “It has worked well in other parts of the country for the past 10 years, and it is already working very well here.”
According to Schupp, he can treat everyone from newborns to the elderly. Some procedures, such as skin lesion removal, are offered at no charge. He notes that though he is trained in OBGYN and inpatient medicine, he won’t be offering prenatal care or hospital care at this time.
Schupp, an avid bicyclist, is working on growing his practice and sees a bright future for direct primary care practices. He invites people to tour his clinic and participate in Q&A over lunch time on certain days.
Dr Schupp…sincerely hoping this system works for you…It almost sounds too goo to be true, but amazing for patient’s. Recently I had a few moments to talk at the bedside with a patient…who stated that she felt like a number/statistic. After working hard in the field of medicine and loving what I do (RN), it was very sad to here this..but I must say…that it seems that she is so very correct. I will follow your site…..
Can you tell me more about your practice and where I might fit in as an RN?
Kari: Thank you so much for your kind words. My practice is so different, I often catch people off guard. I’m glad to say that things are going very well, and I’m humbled by the response I’ve gotten from my new patients.
Amy: Great question! I actually get this question very often from RNs. I think this speaks to how RNs want to work — with more of a patient focus. From my perspective, I want to eventually hire a support staff that is oriented towards helping patients (such as an RN, a PT, a nutritionist, etc.). I will need to grow to my capacity first and perhaps start adding another doc before I can support that in terms of demand and cost. For now, I am hiring a wonderful medical assistant to help with the day-to-day running of the clinic as we grow.
Best,
Will Schupp, MD